Go with a 30" sink in a 30" cabinet (use straps to install). In a smaller kitchen every inch counts.

Skip the oil/spice pull out. Majority of people don't find them as useful as they imagined.

It's too bad there isn't a wall b/w the Kitchen and the room on the right - that would be a better location for the range since you have very little space along the window wall. Then you could do (left to right):

Refrigerator > corner > DW > Sink > corner > Range

I'm guessing you wouldn't be willing to put up a wall there. (You may have even taken one down considering the awkward split of the uppers to the right of the window.)

What's your family composition? Do you ever have someone loading/unloading the DW when someone else is prepping/cooking?

I'm not as skillful at deep layout details as many others on here. But, have you considered this layout: Range where fridge is. Counter depth fridge on short wall. Dishwasher next to sink? This gives you a lot more prep space between sink and range.

Regarding the configuration you have posted: In our second home, I have the dishwasher configuration that is in your layout. We have this only because our condo kitchen is so small there is no other option. (Every unit in our building has this set up.) It isn't the end of the world, but I certainly would not choose it if I had as many options as your space presents.

A 36" sink base cabinet is gigantic. Reduce that. And place the dishwasher to the left of the sink. This is the set up we have in our primary home's kitchen, which is also small but allows for this configuration. It is preferable. Having your sink uncentered beneath the window is just fine. And, 15" drawers are not that useful. I'd rather get rid of them.

The oil and vinegar pull out is a gimmick. Maybe some people have them and love them, but I have not liked them when I used them in friends' kitchens. I much prefer to grab such items placed at eye level in an upper cabinet. Mine are on lazy susan trays so I can spin them around and don't have to reach to the back of the cabinet.

I don't love your 12" uppers on either side of the window. They are so super skinny. I'd find a way to reconfigure those.

A full floorplan to show where the opening go would be helpful.

Not removing walls because of two beams is the sole restriction. I'm possibly moving the window or the door on the window wall.

I'd delete the peninsula and place the frig between the door and window. For your 36" frig to fit you need 6 inches. And you move the window or door to get it. If you go with a 30" frig no window or door changes are needed.

The 30" range now moves to the old frig run. I'd choose 36" to the left of the range for a good prep and work zone and a 36" wide 3 drawer base for pots and pan storage. An induction range gives better performance, and the surface is a counter when not in use. Also easy to clean.

A 24" sink base can accept a 24" sink with a very functional 21 x 16-1/2" interior space. It's plenty large for anything used in a kitchen. Use a Hercules strap mount. If you move the window there's still 60 inches of wall to the left of the window for the only upper cabinet in the space. Room to store plates, glasses, etc. out of the dw below.

I see a 180-inch wall at the bottom of your layout. A 12" deep pantry with doors using the entire length would provide functional storage. The setup in your last picture could be used for part. The one you picture seems too cramped for the space with the opening.

I would go for glass doors in this cabinet

are you replacing the kitchen window? or is it in the existing location?

I like a window over the sink flush with the countertop, makes the room feel bright.

Get @Diana Bier Interiors, LLC on this thread and @JAN MOYER

They will give you excellent feedback.

Appreciate all of the feedback so far, it’s been very helpful! I made a sketch incorporating some of these suggestions including reducing the sink basin to 30” and moving it off center of the window, moving the dishwasher directly next to the sink, and adding glass doors to the uppers in the coffee nook. These changes allow me to extend the counter space between the oven and sink and slightly extend the overall length of the peninsula which improves the overall function of the work triangle and kitchen as a whole.

After playing around with the sketch, I also prefer the look of a box range hood rather than a standalone range hood and open shelving around the beams rather than trying to force awkward cabinets in that corner. There are still some less-than-ideal smaller cabinets that I couldn’t figure out how to avoid, but overall this sketch feels better to me. Curious to hear what others think about these updates!

Better.

To answer a few of the other questions: the window is existing and we don’t plan on moving the location of windows/doors. We’d also like to keep the range in its current location because the hood is already vented through an exterior wall in that spot, while moving it to a different wall would require us to vent through the attic where HVAC equipment sits so not sure if that’s even feasible. The peninsula side of the kitchen opens into a living area so I don’t want to put a wall up nor add a pantry into that space (the original mockups are a bit deceiving in that regard). For the coffee nook space I plan on using 15” or 18” deep base cabinets - enough to fit my coffee machine and gain some extra storage, but not impede too much with the walkways.

@rebunky - hey! Where are you? Need some input from you for this OP too!

I've tagged Jan and Diana on another thread that they are currently posting on today - I added a link to this thread and invited them to hop on over!

Hi Dani, thanks for the tag.

Here is an idea.

Cons: You lose the bar seating. Is that a must have?

Pros: You get the DW next to the sink and a decent space to prep between the sink and stove.

I extended the existing wall to the end of the coffee bar cabinets and moved the fridge there. Would it fit under the beam?

I scooted the range down a few inches so you could add a 6” larger hood, but you don't have to. But I like leaving a little breathing room next to the window. So the space would be equal on each side of the window.

@rebunky we don’t plan on using the peninsula for bar seating as it would be in the path of an exterior door so that‘s not a problem, but do value having extra counter space for prep where possible. The fridge location in that sketch would stick out into the path of another exterior door. Here is another mockup that shows the plans for the coffee nook - on the backside of the glass wall cabinets and base cabinets we plan to stack two 12” deep wall cabinets in an old door cutout from the original layout of the house (the living space beyond this wall/the beams was an addition), so the cabinets will be flush with the wall under the beam and won’t block the exterior door. Worth noting, this mockup does not show the exterior door I’m talking about but for reference it begins about 3” past the coffee nook wall/beam. This mockup also shows 24” deep base cabinets on the kitchen side of the nook which I plan to reduce to 15-18” to have adequate space for a walkway

I did see the two doors on either side of that wall. Is that your front door? Sorry if I missed that. Where do all the doors lead?

I figured the wall behind the fridge in my drawing would need to be about 36“ to 37. You'd have to look at your fridge specs, but most are more like 35 3/4” in order to fit a 36” opening. Then you’d have the fridge panels on each side.

It would be 5’ from the door to the end of that wall where the fridge wall would stick out about 6” maybe less. I figured 6” is not going to obstruct the pathway from the door into the kitchen. I pictured maybe a little plant stand in corner or maybe some coat hooks for guests on that wall if that is the main entry.

Here is what I was thinking for the wall. 18” is the depth of the coffee bar cabs, The wall thickness (where you plan the 12” cabinets says it is 13”, so then you’d need about 6” more that would extend. Hope that makes sense!

Anyways, just tossing out ideas to get you more prep space where it is most needed - between the sink and stove. 15” is not even close to enough. 36” would be the least I would go. Yes, you could prep on the peninsula, but then you have to carry the chopped stuff on a cutting board or tray passed the sink to set down on that tiny 15” to cook. I guess you could use the other side of the stove, but again being next to a sink is best.

I feel sad that you are making compromises that a brand new kitchen should be able to avoid. Maybe the pro will have something better for you.

I would have moved the stove to the short wall where the fridge is as well, but I respected that you said you did not want to move the hood chimney.

I definitely liked your changing to the open shelves under the beam. I cannot stand when the beam is running through an upper cabinet or hood. Looks really bad to me. 😬

ETA: I know your last idea put the DW between the sink and range and you went to a 30’ sink so youd have 39”. But the DW being in the middle of the prep zone is not a good idea because then you cannot prep and have someone emptying/loading dishes at the same time. It is just another one of those compromises that seems so sad in a new kitchen design.

A solution for venting a hood if you moved the range to the interior side is to box in the hood and run the vent duct through the top interior of the upper cabinets to exit out the wall. This is commonly used in two story houses where going up is impossible.

Moving a window is an option to calculate when the overall function of the space is a priority. You can replace it with a different size window starting at counter height that could be a fixed glass picture window showing a view of your exterior space for aesthetics value.

Can you add information about the use of the nook space to the right?

Here’s a sketch of the full home layout to help visualize the adjacent spaces. The doors near the kitchen both lead outside, neither are the main entrance but are commonly used to access the backyard areas. Next to the coffee nook we have a bathroom with a pocket door and a laundry/boiler room directly behind it.

I recognize that trying to work within the existing space makes it tricky to optimize. Our current kitchen setup feels so dysfunctional that it seems any thought-out option we go with will be so much better, but of course I’d love to be able to limit the number of compromises where possible.

You can easily move hood to the short current fridge wall and stil vent out your current exterior hole. It involves one 90 degree bend and is a short run so you won’t compromise the efficacy of draw. You simply run it in the back of the top shelves in your adjacent cabinets. This is commonly done.

You exterior door behind the powder room - what does that lead to and how often is it used and by whom?

From what door do you enter with groceries?

I presume the door to the deck by the peninsula is used a lot - yes?

@Kendrah the exterior door behind the coffee nook/bathroom is the least commonly used, typically only for taking out the trash or watering the garden. The exterior door by the penninsula is commonly used for grilling and patio access. We enter the kitchen with groceries from the dining room door next to the fridge.

We enter the kitchen with groceries from the dining room door next to the fridge.

So do you enter with groceries from the main front door? Where do you park your car? Do you have a separate garage/carport/street parking not connected to the house?

Are you saying that you go up a decent flight of stairs to the main front door, walk through the middle of the living room in front of the fireplace, then through the dining room to the kitchen? I am exhausted just imaging that. Please tell me I am wrong. 😑

The fridge location in that sketch would stick out into the path of another exterior door.

…the exterior door behind the coffee nook/bathroom is the least commonly used, typically only for taking out the trash or watering the garden.

Not saying that my fridge location is the best solution, but looking at the whole floor plan which shows the huge family room, how exactly would the 6” extending wall for the fridge block the flow of the doorway? You said you don’t even use it much.

Sorry if I am confused. Been a long day and the brain is fried.

Total side note. I like how you can access the kitchen by going through the connected small bathroom because otherwise that is a long trek from your master bedroom to get a glass of water or a midnight snack. But… I would hate sharing my master bath with the kids or guests just because it is closer to the outdoor space/family room/kitchen then the other full bathroom. Plus a bathroom adjacent to the kitchen coffee bar is not ideal with the sounds and smells iykwim? 🫣